
Barely four days to the local government election in Kano State, a Federal High Court in Kano, has disqualified the chairman and members of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for being card carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and also not being civil servants of the state above grade level 14.
The suit filed by an APC member Aminu Aliyu Tiga, has KANSIEC, Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi and 14 others as respondents.
Delivering judgement in the matter, the presiding judge, Justice S.A. Amobede, said the chairman and members of KANSIEC card carrying members of the New Nigeria’s People Party (NNPP) and in partisan politics contrary to Sections 197 (1) (b) and 200 (1) (a) of the Constitution and Section 4 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001, are not qualified to be chairman and members of KANSIEC.
The judge further held that Kabir Zakirai, the Secretary of the Commission, having not being an officer in the Kano State civil service not below the rank of Director prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Commission is not qualified to be appointed to the position pursuant to Section 14 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001.
“That, the 1st Defendant whose composition of members was made in contravention of constitutional provisions of section 197 (1) (b) and section 200 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 4 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001 cannot validly and competently conduct Local Government Election 2024 in respect of 44 Local Governments in Kano State until and unless qualified persons are duly and legally appointed as chairman and members of the commission in line with relevant extent law.”